After the release of Only by the Night in September 2008, the band achieved chart success in the United States. The singles "Sex on Fire", "Use Somebody", and "Notion" all peaked at number one on the Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart. The album was their first platinum-selling album in the United States, and the best-selling album of 2008 in Australia, being certified platinum nine times. The band's fifth album, Come Around Sundown, was released on October 18, 2010. Their sixth album, Mechanical Bull, was released on September 24, 2013. The seventh studio album, Walls, was released on October 14, 2016. Their eighth studio album, When You See Yourself, was released on March 5, 2021. The group has 12 Grammy Award nominations, including 4 wins.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kings_of_Leon
Studio albums
Youth & Young Manhood (2003)
Aha Shake Heartbreak (2004)
Because of the Times (2007)
Only by the Night (2008)
Come Around Sundown (2010)
Mechanical Bull (2013)
Walls (2016)
When You See Yourself (2021)
Joe
Kings of Leon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cold no one should know
Rain falls down a freezing
And sticking like a snow
Lingering suspicions
Screaming in my head
Lies all mixed up with omissions
It's too late for apologies they're falling at my feet
This is just the way of the world Joe said
I had to put a bullet into his head
And then lit up a cigarette
Decided to call his fat friend Fred
Well he said Fred I just killed a man
Caught him laying with my girlfriend
And now they're both dead, people can be so cold when they're dead
Calling all the neighbors
Time to make amends
Whiskey floods the table
Aw good friends 'til the end
They're making silly faces and it's tasting bitter sweet
This is just the way of the world Joe said
I had to put a bullet into his head
And then lit up a cigarette
Decided to call his fat friend Fred
Well he said Fred I just killed a man
Caught him laying with my girlfriend
Now they're both dead, people can be so cold when they're dead
It's too late for apologies they're falling at my feet
This is just the way of the world Joe said
I had to put a bullet into his head
And then lit up a cigarette
Decided to call his fat friend Fred
Well he said Fred I just killed a man
Caught him laying with my girlfriend
And now they're both dead, people can be so cold when they're dead
This is just the way of the world Joe said
I had to put a bullet into his head
And then lit up a cigarette
Decided to call his fat friend Fred
Well he said Fred I just killed a man
Caught him laying with my girlfriend
And now they're both dead, people can be so cold when they're dead
The lyrics of Kings of Leon's song Joe are centered around a violent story of revenge and betrayal. The first verse portrays a physical discomfort while the second denotes the psychological turmoil the singer is going through. The phrase "It's too late for apologies they're falling at my feet" indicates that the singer's actions have passed a point of no return. The chorus is repeated twice and is interrupted by the story of Joe, which unfolds in the third verse. The lyrics become more violent and chaotic towards the end, possibly indicating how out of control the situation has become. The song ends with a repetition of the chorus, emphasizing the inevitability of such situations and the role of violence in human interactions.
The inclusion of names like Joe and Fred in the song implies a real-life incident that the band may have borrowed from. Caleb Followill, the lead singer, has mentioned that the song is based on a story his mother told him about a man who killed his girlfriend and his best friend when he caught them together. The song is notable for its darker and more violent themes, which are not commonly found in the Kings of Leon's music. It marks a departure from their earlier sound and has been critically acclaimed for its authenticity and intensity.
Line by Line Meaning
Blistered cracked and bleeding
Physically damaged and hurt with visible wounds and injuries
Cold no one should know
An emotional state of being numb and distant, almost unbearable for any person to experience
Rain falls down a freezing, and sticking like a snow
The rain, a metaphorical representation of the negative events that happen in life, is adding up to the already existing burden, weighing heavily on the shoulder of the person experiencing them
Lingering suspicions screaming in my head
Doubts and mistrust that refuse to go away and are tormenting the persona from within, affecting their mental peace
Lies all mixed up with omissions
Incomplete and false information that is causing havoc in the person's mind
Aw welcome home again
A feeling of unwelcome return to a place full of past troubles and mistakes
It's too late for apologies they're falling at my feet
The damage caused is irreversible, and any attempt at making amends is futile
This is just the way of the world Joe said
Life is full of pain, suffering, and injustice, and one has to learn to accept it as the norm
I had to put a bullet into his head
The persona was pushed to such an extent that committing a heinous crime seemed like the only available solution
And then lit up a cigarette
Smoking served as a coping mechanism for the guilt and trauma of the situation
Decided to call his fat friend Fred
Reaching out to a trusted confidant for emotional support
Well he said Fred I just killed a man
Sharing the truth about the gruesome incident with a trusted friend
Caught him laying with my girlfriend
Discovering infidelity, an act of betrayal that provoked intense emotions of anger and hurt
And now they're both dead, people can be so cold when they're dead
The consequence of the actions taken was severe, leading to the loss of life, and the realization of the finality of death
Calling all the neighbors
Reaching out to the people in the community for support and comfort
Time to make amends
Seeking a way to rectify the past mistakes and reconcile with oneself and the affected parties
Whiskey floods the table
Alcohol serving as a form of escapism, numbing the pain and regrets
Aw good friends 'til the end
The sense of camaraderie and solidarity amongst the group of friends, despite the past events
They're making silly faces and it's tasting bittersweet
A moment of happiness and laughter, mixed with a lingering sense of bitterness and regret
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG Rights Management
Written by: NATHAN FOLLOWILL, CALEB FOLLOWILL, ANGELO T. PETRAGLIA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Oliver Davies
“People can be so cold when they’re dead” is the best line written in the last 30 years
epip d
Not a bad song on this whole cd. One of the greatest bands ever! Never tire of listening to them.
Einar-Andreas Skrikerud
this is the coolest song I've ever heard, and I'm playing it on my guitar all the time!!!! kings of leon is the best band ever!!!!! <3 much love from norway
Daniela González
This song is pure gold
Aimee Walsh
love kings of leon new and old stuff
Juan Pablo Zuleta
When unlimited internet came home, I immediately started to dig deep into King of Leon music, that was about 2006 and Red Morning Lilith was the only song that I knew at that time then I ended up listening the whole Youth and young manhood I loved it since then,one of 2000 favorites bands.
Daddy Gamer
This is peak Kings. I'm not about to shit on their new stuff, as they gave me this record.
Dave9823
caleb followill before he discovered the joys of singing in english.
Benaiah Spencer
😂😂😂😂😂
e s
Dave9823 was real then now there u2